Arsenal target Taarabt is better off at QPR, claims Mark Hughes

Nov 11, 2012 2:55:00 PM

The 49-year-old manager has stated Arsene Wenger should forget about trying to sign his Moroccan starlet, insisting the gifted 23-year-old is happy to continue at Loftus Road

QPR manager Mark Hughes has warned Arsenal they will face a struggle to sign Adel Taarabt, insisting that Loftus Road is the best place for the Moroccan midfielder to continue his development.

Rangers are currently bottom of the Premier League after a 1-0 loss against Stoke on Saturday left them without a win in 11 games, but the 23-year-old has impressed with his dribbling and shooting ability so far this season.

And while Arsene Wenger is reportedly interested in bringing the talented youngster to the Emirates Stadium, Hughes is adamant Taarabt is happy where he is - and can become an even better player.

"It wouldn't surprise me if clubs were looking at [Taarabt] but I know for a fact that he is very happy here and he sees his future here," he told reporters.

"This is the best place for him because we support him, we give him the best chance to be successful and he understands that."

Hughes believes the midfielder has worked harder to become a team player, which was a criticism during QPR's first season back in the top flight in 2011-12 when Taarabt was not a regular fixture in the starting XI.

"He is working exceptionally hard for the team, which in the past has been a criticism of him," he argued.

"That's not the case now. He is in a really good place now in terms of his attitude to his work and what he is able to produce on the pitch. We are really pleased with what he is showing on the pitch."

And Hughes suggested he has not worked with many more talented players than Taarabt - although he can keep on improving to become an even better footballer.

"He's an outstanding player. In terms of ability alone he is arguably one of the best players I have played or worked with," he added.

"Obviously that is not the whole package. There are still parts of his game that he has to work on and he understands that."

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Champions League final - LIVE!

German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will battle it out at Wembley for European glory. Get involved by sending us your thoughts via Twitter or Facebook! Hosted by Mark Doyle.

10:41 PM BST

Philipp Lahm is also relieved that Bayern have finally banished the memory of their heart-breaking - and thoroughly undeserved - loss to Chelsea last season.

"We worked unbelievably hard in last year's final and finally we have been rewarded," the Roten skipper enthused.

"We had to got through so much. But everybody worked so hard in the last months and weeks and now we have finally won it."

10:39 PM BST

Even better stuff from Manuel Neuer, who arguably kept his side in the game during the opening 25 minutes, who admitted to Sky Sport Germany:

"I have to admit: after it went 1-1, I was scared as s**t! You remember how it went last year. The feeling when we scored was undescribable."

10:22 PM BST

Terrific stuff from Bayern attacking midfielder Thomas Muller, the kind of socks-around-the-ankles player that I think any true football fan inherently adores.

"It is hard to describe," he told ZDF. "I am completely done, I have cramps left and right. But I did not go off the pitch and it paid off. Physically I am over the limit now.

"When you are 68 years old and you have a record season and then you win the Champions League and have the chance for the triple, you can be happy you are 68 and not 25. Because then you can retire."

10:17 PM BST

An word from Goal Germany correspondent Tim Rohn on a night of redemption for Bayern Munich:

"One year after that bitter loss to Chelsea the Bayern are now the ones dancing on the pitch. BVB gets a farewell with much applause and a scraf parade. No matter that Bayern won: For every german football fan in London this will be a very long night."

10:13 PM BST

Happily, Dortmund's players aren't feeling too down about things. They're proud of what they've done, and rightly so. They've lit up the competition with their fearless brand of football.

"We are proud," Weidenfeller told ZDF. "We stood up to Bayern and we've had a great season in the Champions League. We gave everything and did our best to win that trophy. But we will come back again."

Sebastian Kehl added: "We played a fantastic match and gave a great account of ourselves. We can be proud. And of course we will attack again next season."

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